Thousands in Oyster Bay for 2010 Oyster Festival

Throngs of people hungry for seafood and sunshine filled the streets of Oyster Bay Saturday for the weekend-long 27th annual Oyster Festival.

About 100,000 people came by car, bus and train to check out the festival's tall ships, exhibits and - of course - the oysters, which came stewed, fried or on the half shell.

"I've been hearing about it," said one first-timer, Kevin Osterow of Merrick. "It's good. There are a lot of people here."

One event sponsor estimated total weekend attendance could reach 250,000.

At midafternoon, traffic slowly snaked a mile down to the harbor, and enterprising students at one school were selling parking space for $5 a car as a fundraiser.

About 40 shuttle buses ran between Shore Avenue in downtown Oyster Bay and scattered parking lots throughout the area, collecting people from as far away as the Syosset railroad station and Muttontown Preserve.

Once in the hamlet, festivalgoers took in a range of activities and offerings. At various stops, vendors sold antiques, sand paintings, and other local arts and crafts. There was oyster stew, steak sandwiches and hot dogs.

Linette Gordon sold T-shirts from the Frank M. Flower & Sons tent, with the proceeds going to a food pantry. "It's a family thing for me," said Gordon, whose brothers operate the shellfish company in Oyster Bay and Bayville.

The festival continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit theoysterfestival.org.

With Nomaan Merchant